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Intermediate connector

Intermediate connector description/claims

The present application claims priority to prior Japanese application JP 2005-37641, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to an electrical connector adapted to be interposed between two connection objects to connect these connection objects to each other (hereinafter, the electrical connector will be also called an “intermediate connector”).

An electrical connector of the type is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Tokkai (JP-A) No. H06-76876 under the title of an “anisotropic conductive connector.” The anisotropic conductive connector comprises an insulating film, a plurality of fine conductive patterns formed on an outer surface of the insulating film by etching, and a rubber-like elastic member. The insulating film is folded into a generally U shape so that the conductive patterns are exposed outside and the elastic member is interposed between folded portions of the insulating film. Further, the insulating film and the elastic member are fixed to each other. The anisotropic conductive connector is capable of optionally setting the width, alignment pitch, or pattern of conducting fine parallel lines, preventing the removal or deformation of a conductor as the time of cutting out, having high reliability as a contact, and is capable of withstanding the repeated insertion and extraction.

In the anisotropic conductive connector described above, the plurality of fine conductive patterns are formed on only the outer surface of the insulating film. It is therefore difficult to narrow a pitch of the fine conductive patterns.

Another electrical connector of the type is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Tokkai (JP-A) No. 2003-123868 under the title of a “press-contact connector.” The press-contact connector comprises an insulating elastomer, an insulating rubber sheet covering the insulating elastomer and fixed thereto by an adhesive, and a plurality of conductive thin wires arranged along an outer surface of the insulating rubber sheet at a predetermined pitch. In the press-contact connector having such a structure, two circuit boards are electrically connected to each other through the press-contact connector.

In the press-contact connector, the plurality of conductive thin wires are formed on only the outer surface of the insulating rubber sheet at the predetermined pitch. Therefore, it is also difficult to narrow a pitch of the conductive thin wires. In addition, the conductive rubber sheet having almost U-shaped cross section is made to cover a part of the periphery to almost the insulating elastomer. It is therefore difficult to thin the electrical connector.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an intermediate connector which is capable of preventing a short circuit at a narrower pitch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an intermediate connector which is capable of thinning the connector.

Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

On describing the gist of a first aspect of this invention, it is possible to be understood that an electrical connector is adapted to be interposed between first and second connection objects to electrically connect the first and the second connection objects to each other. The electrical connector comprises a base member of a plate-like shape having upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in a thickness direction. The base member has front and rear edges opposite to each other in a back-and-forth direction. Mounted on the base member, the flexible conductive film includes a flexible insulating film having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to each other. The flexible insulating film is folded near the rear edge of the base member into a generally U shape with the outer surface kept on the outside. The flexible conductive film comprises a film conductive pattern for electrically connecting the first connection object with the second connection object. Upper and lower elastic members are fixed to the upper and the lower surfaces of the base member, respectively. The upper and the lower elastic members are interposed between the flexible conductive film and the base member. According to the first aspect of this invention, in the above-mentioned electrical connector, the film conductive pattern is formed not only on the outer surface of the flexible insulating film but also on the inner surface of the flexible insulating film.

On describing the gist of a second aspect of this invention, it is possible to be understood that a connecting tool is for electrically connecting a first connection objection board with a second connection objection board through an electrical connector interposed between the first connection objection board and the second connection objection board. The connecting tool comprises a base mounted on the second connection objection board, a cover for covering the base, a shaft for rotatably supporting the cover on the base, and a pusher, held in the cover, for pushing the first connection objection board toward the electrical connector. According to the second aspect of this invention, the connecting tool further comprises a first urging member for urging the cover so as to rotate the cover around the shaft in a direction that pushes the pusher and a second urging member for urging the pusher so as to move the pusher away from the electrical connector.

On describing the gist of a third aspect of this invention, it is possible to be understood that a connecting device comprises an electrical connector interposed between a first connection objection board and a second connection objection board, and a connecting tool for electrically connecting the first connection objection board with the second connection objection board through the electrical connector. The connecting tool comprises a base mounted on the second connection objection board, a cover for covering the base, a shaft for rotatably supporting the cover on the base, and a pusher, held in the cover, for pushing the first connection objection board toward the electrical connector. According to the third aspect of this invention, in the connecting device, the connecting tool further comprises a first urging member for urging the cover so as to rotate the cover around the shaft in a direction that pushes said pusher, and a second urging member for urging the pusher so as to move the pusher away from the electrical connector.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a related electrical connector;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the related electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the related electrical connector of FIG. 2, taken along lines III-III;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary development of an outer surface of a flexible conductive film for use in the related electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary development of an inner surface of the flexible conductive film illustrated in FIG. 4A;

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